Combining ability analysis for yield and its component traits in maize (Zea mays L.)

Combining ability analysis for yield and its component traits was performed with twenty four lines, three testers and theresulting 72 hybrids using Line x Tester analysis. The interaction of Line x Tester was highly significant for all thecharacters studied except number of leaves per plant. Varianc...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: S. Kanagarasu, G. Nallathambi and K.N. Ganesan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Indian Society of Plant Breeders 2010-07-01
Series:Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding
Subjects:
Online Access:http://sites.google.com/site/ejpb10/vol-1-4-3/Vol-1-4-915-920.pdf?attredirects=0
Description
Summary:Combining ability analysis for yield and its component traits was performed with twenty four lines, three testers and theresulting 72 hybrids using Line x Tester analysis. The interaction of Line x Tester was highly significant for all thecharacters studied except number of leaves per plant. Variance due to sca was greater than gca variance for the traits viz.,grain yield per plant, cob diameter, cob length, plant height, ear height, leaf length, 100 grain weight, grain rows per cob,days to 50 per cent tasseling and days to 50 per cent silking. The variance due to SCA was higher than due to GCAindicating the predominance of non-additive type of gene action in the governance of above mentioned traits. Among thelines, the line UMI 1093 was found as the best general combiner with better mean performance for most of the yieldcontributing traits followed by UMI 1044-7, UMI 1053-6, UMI 1029-5 and UMI 2244-1. Considering the testers, UMI 61was found as the best general combiner with better mean performance for most of the yield contributing traits followed byUMI 1119. Among the crosses, UMI 1044-7 x UMI 61 was found to be the superior with positive significant SCA effectsand better mean performance for grain yield, cob length and grains per row. Similar superior positive significant SCA effectswith better mean performance were also observed in UMI 1093 x UMI 61 (grain yield per plant) and UMI 2244-1 x UMI1119 (grain yield per plant and grain rows per cob).
ISSN:0975-928X